March is great time of year to get your yard ready for the spring. For warm season turf such as Bermuda and Zoysia, scalping the turf down as low as your mower will go is a great idea. The reasons for this are two-fold, one is to get rid of the excess thatch in the yard and the other is to allow the new grass to get more sunlight quicker and allow the green-up process to occur more rapidly. For fescue turf you can do a supplemental aeration and over seeding if your Fall one was not as successful as you would have liked or if you want to oxygenate the soil and relieve compaction.
All types of turf can be fertilized during March to enhance the green up as well as strengthen the root system. You may also start to see some of your shrubs blooming which is a sure sign that spring is almost here. Keep in mind though that “old man winter” usually has one last appearance before the spring temperatures are here for good. If we are going to get any temperatures below freezing, cover those flowers so you don’t lose them prematurely.
March is also a great time to freshen up your mulch. Whether you have mulch or pinestraw now is a great time to replenish the old with new. Fresh mulch not only beautifies your property it can also help keep weeds from germinating and also help retain moisture for your trees and shrubs which will cut down on how much you have to water.